FC: ADL warns Feds that terrorists use e-gold to transfer $$$

[Declan McCullagh <declan@well.com>]

I accept e-gold donations to pay for Politech hosting fees:
http://www.politechbot.com/donate/

Does that make me a terrorist too?

Also see:
http://www.adl.org/internet/e_gold.asp
>About half of the e-gold system's physical reserves are located
>in Dubai, apparently for financial reasons, but also to help in the 
>marketing of e-dinar, which was launched in September 2000. E-dinar is 
>affiliated with the Islamic Mint, a private organization dedicated to 
>reviving the gold and silver currencies described in the Quran. Officers 
>of the Islamic Mint (who hail from England, Spain, Switzerland, Malaysia 
>and Germany), are members of the Murabitun movement - a tiny, Western 
>offshoot of Islam's Sufi movement, founded by a Scottish convert in the 
>1960s. The sect is staunchly anti-Al Qaeda and anti-Taliban but seeks to 
>enlist Muslims worldwide in an effort to overturn world finance in favor 
>of a "Quranic" gold and silver system.

-Declan

---

From: "Rosado, Frances" <FRosado@adl.org>
Subject: ADL Press Release
Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2003 14:42:20 -0500



        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Myrna Shinbaum (212) 885-7747
                  Todd Gutnick (212) 885-7755

ADL WARNS TERRORISTS MAY USE "E-GOLD"

TO TRANSFER FUNDS ON INTERNET

New York, NY, January 21, 2003 ... As the government moves to freeze the 
finances of terror groups and their supporters, the Anti-Defamation League 
(ADL) today alerted the U.S. Customs Service that terrorists may seek to 
conceal financial transactions using a unique form of online currency.

         The potential abuse by terrorists of e-gold, an Internet currency 
that enables deposits and transfers of precious metals using online trading 
accounts, "merits serious attention" by those government agencies who track 
sources of terrorist financing, said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.

         "While we know of no links between e-gold and terrorism at the 
present time, e-gold merits serious attention given the record of Internet 
use by terrorists and the abuse of similar devices by domestic extremists," 
said Mr. Foxman.

         In a letter to U.S. Customs Commissioner Robert C. Bonner, ADL 
said that terrorists may find e-gold appealing because it enables large 
amounts of currency to be exchanged electronically without leaving a record 
of the transaction.  Because of its anonymity, economists and Secret 
Service officials have recently expressed concern about the potential for 
money laundering using e-gold channels.

About half of the e-gold system's physical reserves are located in Dubai, 
United Arab Emirates, apparently for financial reasons, but also to help in 
the marketing of e-dinar, which was launched in September 2000.  E-dinar is 
affiliated with the Islamic Mint, a private organization dedicated to 
reviving gold and silver currencies described in the Quran.

         A fact sheet on e-gold is available on the League's Web site at 
<http://www.adl.org>www.adl.org.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading 
organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that 
counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.







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